AG vrs GFA: Court orders GFA to cease all football activities for 10 days
An Accra High Court has granted an application for interim injunction brought by the Attorney General, Madam Gloria Akuffo asking the court to compel the Ghana Football Association’s (GFA) to put a stop to all football activities in country.
The ruling by Justice Samuel Asiedu is to last for 10 days.
The order by the court bars the GFA and its officials from carrying out all officials duties, not excluding the organization of football matches, the selling of the association’s assets, the appointment and election of officials and other official duties.
The ruling of the court follows an application for a restraining order on the GFA while legal processes are being taken to liquidate the Association.
The Attorney General headed to court on Tuesday, June 12, 2018 to dissolve the GFA following an explosive revelation against the Association by Anas Aremeyaw Anas.
High-ranking members in the GFA, including its then-President Kwesi Nyantakyi, have been implicated in acts of corruption.
Kwesi Nyantakyi was seen allegedly receiving a bribe to illegally secure a $15 million sponsorship deal for Ghana’s local league, acting simultaneously as FA boss and the representative of a ‘ghost’ company that would serve as agent.
This would have seen him pocket about 20 percent of the sponsorship sum, contrary to FIFA and GFA’s regulations.
He later resigned as the President of the Association after exposé without admitting any guilt.
Leading a legal team comprising her Deputy , Joseph Dindiok Kpemka; Solicitor General, Helen Ziwu and Chief State Attorney, Stella Badu, the A-G prayed the court for the interim order and attached the Dzamefe Report as deposition.
In her argument before the court, Gloria Akuffo stated that the GFA was being used for illegal purposes, hence the responsibility of government to protect the interest of the public, stressing that the GFA is heavily financed by the State and it’s teams compete with the name Ghana and cited examples such as “Ghana Black Stars”, Black Queens of Ghana”.
She further averred that the association and its former president, Kwesi Nyantakyi, used the GFA as an instrument for self-aggrandizement and a mens by some officials to make themselves rich.
The Attorney General also told the court that the GFA’s ways of operation has “affected the image of the country” following the latest investigative piece by Anas.
The presiding Judge, Justice Asiedu, subsequently granted her request for a restraining order on the GFA.
Source: Peacefmonline.com
